You know you’ve read a great book when you can’t stop thinking about it and imagining all the different scenarios for the next book.
This book turned out way better than I thought it would. It reminds me why I love fantasy. What I love most in fantasy (epic adult fantasy, to be precise) is its originality and the way the authors play at words. And this is no exception.
The author uses a very rare storytelling style in this book. Some fantasy books start with a bang then backstory of the main character, others say a little about the Mcs backstory in the middle of the book, etc., but John Gwynne started the book with the MCs as teens, how their life, family, the environment is going to contribute to their future (don’t worry is not YA-ish).
So that makes the beginning of the book quite slow, but since it’s the first book in the series, it is understandable. There is religion, which is a major factor in fantasy, myths, prophecies, friendship, family, politics, you name them, all in this book. Even with all those, the action is still present with perfectly depicted battle scenes.
World building and Writing
To say the world-building is great is an understatement. The depiction is nicely done, and this is a debut novel of the author. The world is really big with lots of kingdoms. I really love the writing. The book is written in third person multiple POVs of the MCs, which I admit are a lot, but not up to that of Malazan. The author made it easy to understand by starting each chapter with the character’s name whose POVs are about to be read as a chapter title.
Characters
When a fantasy book has lots of characters, it’s scary because that means not all of them will make it. Even at that I can’t help loving them and hope the author doesn’t kill off all my favorites. Here are some of my most loved and hated characters in the book.
Corban
Even if all the other characters die and only him survives, I’ll be happy because I love him. The book started with him at 13 and ended when he turned 16. Corban acts way older than his age. He is loyal AF, and his relationship with his family, especially with his elder sister Cywen is so admirable. He is kind to everyone, even animals, he has a pet wolven called Storm. Wolven are like wolves, but bigger and deadlier, and he has one. How cool is that?! Corban is also respectful and honorable.
Cywen
The badass knife-throwing sister of Corban. She is my favorite female character in the book, not because of her love for her brother but her love and loyalty to her friends. Their parents really raised them well. In a world where girls are not allowed to fight their parents and brother, she is putting the skill to good use.
Kastell
Kastell suffered more than all the characters in this book. His life has been hell growing up. Even at 16, things are just getting worse for him. He is such a good person but is surrounded by pure evil. The book ended when he was 18, with him in a very bad situation, and I am so scared for him.
Veradis
I actually liked this guy. I was rooting for him like mad, but that changed when he exchanged his brain for anything Narthair said. I bet if Narthair tells him the sky is purple, he will believe without arguing. He is so foolish and has stopped using his brain.
At least the villains have the decency to accept they are indeed evil.
Evnis
To say I hate this man is an understatement. No word can do justice to how I feel about him. He is pure evil, and I wish Nightblood would appear and destroy him. The book starts with him making a very terrible, selfish decision.
Others I love include Halion (I want more of him), Dath, Farrell, Edana, and Brina.
Plot
Millennia’s ago, Elyon created a world where humans, giants, and other creatures lived in peace, but that changed when Astroth, another god, sought to destroy the world.
There was a great war, things happened, and people died. Presently giants and humans are enemies but manage to live in a mini harmony. Still, that is also changing because a prophecy is coming, and all those ancient mythical creatures are coming back.
The god war between Elyon and Astroth is about to start again with humans in the middle. Both gods have picked a champion that will determine who will win the war, so everyone prepares their army and picks a side. But politics and power-drunk people are just thinking of how to get more power.
